mine that are horrible.” Shrugging, I argued, “It’s spaghetti. It’s what you do.”
“Mmmhmmm,” he replied before feeding himself. Ashton seemed unimpressed by my answer, but that was him. Arrogant human sometimes, too. After taking a bite of my chicken, I caught him staring at my hair. His eyes were low while doing it, and again, I couldn’t read his thoughts. Oh, well. I put my foot into this food! “It’s December,” his deep vocals rang out.
“Yeah. I know.” His birthday was the first day of December.
“That means there’s only about two weeks left of the semester. How do you think you did?”
“As far as school? I’ve done better in college than I did in high school grade-wise. So, I’d say good.”
“Thanks to yours truly.”
“For one writing class.” I rolled my eyes. “Oh, and a fake boyfriend, and mad new gear.”
He asked, “Will you be coming back in the spring?” before taking a bite of chicken.
I nodded and chewed, mouth full. “I can’t say I had the best time here or I fit in, but I still think it was a good decision.” I was able to look at him.
Ashton froze while I answered. “That’s cool. Blakewood was the best decision for me. The academic experience is unparalleled, and the athletic department is the best on the planet.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mr. BSU. You’re a walking pamphlet,” I joked. Then a thought hit me. “People talk about your schedule. I hear you won’t be here next semester.”
He shook his head, attention back on his food. “I start workouts for the Combine right after the New Year out in Jersey. There’s a gym in Upper Saddle River for training. Then the Combine in February.”
“What’s that?”
“The event where players go and show off their abilities for coaches, GMs, and other League heads. They test to see who’s got the goods for the League.”
“So, a whole day?”
“A week.”
“You’ve got to be tested for a whole week?”
“It’ll basically be me showing them what I got. That’s where my draft stock will be established, and when teams can officially look at me to see I’ve got what it takes.”
“You’ll be a lab rat.” I understood.
“Pretty much. So while you’re kicking off your second semester, I’ll be in camp training in Jersey getting ready, then in Indianapolis showing my ass. After there, I have a few obligatory events, then comes the draft in April.” He shrugged, going for the last of his spaghetti.
I nodded, loving his confidence. Ashton had lots coming up. I wouldn’t see him. What would that have meant for Aivery before their “break up?” That was something I still wasn’t convinced would stick. I’d only known them for three months and, in my mind, they were permanently together. It was how I met them, how, for weeks, I wanted to leave them.
“What’s the matter?”
I glanced up to find his eyes on me.
Shrugging, I went for my chicken. “Nothing. Just realizing I won’t see your ugly, bossy, moody, controlling human form after a couple of weeks.”
“Awwwwww. Does that bother you, Nabby-girl?”
I blinked, brows in the air as I shook my head. “Why would something like that bother a tomboy?” Seriously wounded by that reality, I wouldn’t look at him. I was pissed.
Shit…
“Oh, right.” He sat back, swinging his arm over the back of the chair, sporting an amused expression. His head fell to the side. “The tomboy, who loves when I play with her pussy.” He nodded.
Arrogant human!
“I’ve changed my mind. I’m into girls.” No words had ever been more stupid coming from my face. My eyes were to my chicken, though my appetite was gone. “Besides, I’m sure I can find one who can do better things with my ‘pussy’ than you, seeing they have one in the first place.”
“Like Trisha Gaskin’s friend, who tried to hit on you at the top of the semester?”
“Oh!” I sang dryly. “Definitely her. She’s old, too. You know old is experienced. I’m sure she can teach me a thing or two a twenty-one-year-old college guy can’t.”
“Twenty-two,” he stated calmly, then threw his napkin into the empty plate. “Today’s my birthday, making me twenty-two. And I’m ready for my gift. You ready to hear it?”
At first, I sat there like a confused idiot. He was ready for his gift? Okay, but it sounded like he had a choice of what it was.
“Okay…” I tried for strength, not knowing where he was going.